South Lancaster in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Site of Mary Rowlandson’s Capture
Photographed by Roger W. Sinnott, May 30, 2010
1. Site of Mary Rowlandson’s Capture Marker
In the field nearby was situated the garrison house of the Rev. Joseph Rowlandson first ordained minister of Lancaster. During his absence on February 10, 1675-76 this garrison house was attacked and destroyed by the Indians. The inhabitants were massacred or carried into captivity. Later most of them were redeemed.
The minister’s wife immortalized her experiences in “The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson” first published at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1682.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian • Women. In addition, it is included in the King Philip's War 1675-1676 series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 10, 1675.
Location. 42° 26.993′ N, 71° 40.525′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It is in South Lancaster. It is on Main Street (Massachusetts Route 70) north of Bigelow Gardens, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 602 Main St, Lancaster MA 01523, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner and in Greater Worcester. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of the Great Elm (approx. half a mile away); Neck Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rowlandson Rock
this page online
Regarding Site of Mary Rowlandson’s Capture. During King Philip’s War, one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history, Mary Rowlandson (c. 1637-1711) was captured with her three children and 20 other residents of Lancaster who were taking refuge in her house. Her husband had gone to Boston to plead for more troops to protect the town.
In an ordeal lasting almost 12 weeks she was separated from her children and moved “up and down the wilderness” (as she later wrote), through what is now central Massachusetts, southern Vermont, and New Hampshire. She escaped torture and death by knitting shirts, socks, caps, and similar garments in return for food.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in
Photographed by Roger W. Sinnott, May 30, 2010
2. Wider View
Also see . . .
1. More information. Includes additional links about Mary Rowlandson and her book. (Submitted on June 25, 2010, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts.)
2. The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.
On the tenth of February 1675/6 came the Indians in great numbers upon Lancaster. Their first coming was about sun-rising. Hearing the noise of some guns, we looked out: several houses were burning, and the smoke ascending to heaven.(Submitted on April 17, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
3. King Philip’s War: 350 years after the Lancaster Raid.
While King Philip’s War technically began in January of 1675 with the murder of John Sassamon, the War really began for Lancaster in February of 1676, when a group of Wampanoag, Nipmuc and Narragansett men attacked the frontier settlement in the early hours of the morning, burning the majority of the town and taking Lancaster’s most famous resident – Mary Rowlandson – captive.(Submitted on April 17, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
4. Lancaster Raid - Wikipedia.
The Lancaster Raid was the first in a series of five planned raids on English colonial towns during the winter of 1675-1676 as part of King Philip's War. Metacom, known by English colonists as King Philip, was a Wampanoag(Submitted on May 4, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)sachem who led and organized Wampanoag warriors during the war. Teaming up with Nipmuc and Narragansett warriors, the Wampanoag successfully raided the town of Lancaster, securing provisions and prisoners to help them carry on into their winter offensive.
3. King Philip's War - A Raid on SettlersEngraving from The Providence Plantations for 250 Years, Welcome Arnold Greene, 1886.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2010, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 4,008 times since then and 137 times this year. Last updated on May 4, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 25, 2010, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. 3. submitted on April 17, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
